Denmark is making its largest single investment in its defense to date by acquiring eight ground-based air and missile defense systems. The decision was made by the parties behind the Defense Agreement and includes both long- and medium-range systems, at an estimated cost of 58 billion Danish kroner.
According to Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen, the investment is a direct result of the deteriorating security situation.
"Experiences from Ukraine show that ground-based air defense plays a crucial role in protecting, among other things, the civilian population against Russian air attacks," he says in a press release from the Ministry of Defense.
For the long-range systems, Denmark has chosen the French-Italian SAMP/T, while the options for the medium-range systems include the Norwegian-produced NASAMS, the German IRIS-T, and the French VL MICA. According to Defense Chief Michael Hyldgaard, the goal is to create a layered defense that can address various types of threats.
The acquisition means that air defense will be in place throughout Denmark to protect the population, cities, and critical infrastructure. The first system is expected to be operational by 2025, with capacity gradually expanded thereafter.
– The decision to use multiple suppliers, rather than one or two, enables shorter delivery times. This means we can more quickly achieve a comprehensive capacity for ground-based air defense and thereby best support a rapid buildup of Danish combat power, says Lieutenant General Per Pugholm Olsen, head of the Ministry of Defense's Material and Procurement Agency.